Problems of Sugarcane-Cutting Workers Will Be Resolved on Priority – Minister Sanjay Shirsat
Beed, August 2026 : The state government has taken significant steps for the overall development and social security of sugarcane-cutting workers, women workers and their children across Maharashtra. Several welfare schemes are being effectively implemented through the Loknete Gopinath Munde Sugarcane-Cutting Workers Welfare Corporation. The government stands firmly behind these families to improve their standard of living. Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar directed officials of the concerned departments to ensure effective implementation of welfare schemes for sugarcane-cutting workers in the district.
She was speaking at a review meeting on sugarcane-cutting workers held under the Loknete Gopinath Munde Sugarcane-Cutting Workers Welfare Corporation, Pune, at the conference hall of the District Collector's Office. Social Justice Minister Sanjay Shirsat, MLA Dhananjay Munde, MLA Prakash Solanke, MLA Vijaysinh Pandit, Managing Director of the Loknete Gopinath Munde Sugarcane-Cutting Workers Welfare Corporation Deepa Mudhol-Munde, District Collector Vivek Johnson, Zilla Parishad Chief Executive Officer Jitin Rehman, Superintendent of Police Navneet Kanwat and Resident Deputy Collector Shivkumar Swami were present.
Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar said that 56 hostels have been started under the Sant Bhagwanbaba Government Hostel Scheme to bring the children of sugarcane-cutting workers into the mainstream of education, with 3,373 boys and girls currently studying in these hostels. More than Rs 172 crore has been sanctioned for the construction of new hostel buildings in Beed and other districts.
A special survey is also underway to issue official identity cards to sugarcane-cutting workers, with around 2.89 lakh workers registered so far, she said. More than Rs 11 crore has been distributed under the ex-gratia assistance scheme to the legal heirs of deceased workers and in cases of personal disability and accidents.
She further said that, keeping in mind the health and welfare of women sugarcane-cutting workers, a historic proposal has been submitted to the Cooperation Department to provide 26 weeks of paid maternity leave and minimum wages for the first two children.
Social Justice Minister Sanjay Shirsat said that various problems faced by sugarcane-cutting workers would be resolved on priority through the Loknete Gopinath Munde Sugarcane-Cutting Workers Welfare Corporation. He expressed confidence that greater coordination would be brought into the functioning of the corporation and concrete measures would be taken for the welfare of workers.
Speaking about the pending demands and various issues of sugarcane-cutting workers, Minister Shirsat said that unfortunate incidents of bullock pairs being killed in accidents frequently occur during the sugarcane-crushing season. Several cases seeking compensation for the loss of such bullock pairs are still pending. Considering the financial losses suffered by workers, all pending cases would be resolved at the earliest and relief would be provided to them, he assured.
He also said that the administration has begun distributing identity cards to provide sugarcane-cutting workers with an official identity. These identity cards will give registered workers a new identity and a sense of dignity. The entire functioning of the Sugarcane-Cutting Workers Welfare Corporation would be streamlined so that its schemes reach every worker at the grassroots level and contribute to improving their standard of living, Minister Shirsat added.
MLA Dhananjay Munde said that the registration process for sugarcane-cutting workers had been carried out effectively. He strongly demanded that workers who travel to other states for sugarcane-cutting work should also be made eligible for ex-gratia assistance.
